Shut down until June 7 — Page 6

NotThatSmart said: "Sutton Ross said: "Thank you NotThatSmart, I appreciate your words. I think being well informed and in the know about what is going on right now is essential. It's frustrating to me when people refuse to believe charts and graphs from scientists, economists and medical doctors. Those same people seem to be the people still going out and disregarding social distancing. It's very personal to me, my best friends' Father died two nights ago from COVID, and my cousin is currently in the ICU battling this, and he is completely alone.

That poster started off our communication by telling me to "shut the f*ck up" when I was just informing them of facts regarding this pandemic, and consistently attacked and disregarded all of the information we were trying to convey to them. I am frustrated and tired at the willful ignorance of it all. When someone is not open to learning, you have to stop trying. So, that's the story there. Take care of yourself, please."

Anytime. I 100% agree. I think people are just looking for someone or something to blame. No one's at fault for the decision of the postponement to June 7 and any postponement announced after that. If anyone is at fault, it is those who are still out and about doing non-essential travel- but even then, that group is way too big to single out.

"


no one should be blamed.


We just need to face the reality before us. Life has changed, likely for a much longer period of time anyone of us saw coming.


Let me give an example from my city, Vancouver. We have been no where near as impacted as New York. Yet all our major summer theatre events are now fully cancelled. (Bard on the Beach, TUTS.) Artsclub is continually adjusting their schedule, and I assume most their summer season is postponed.


Then I can already assume that August Pride will fall in line and be cancelled, and Celebration of Light.


If this is what’s happening to theatre and events in our small city (compared to NYC)... Broadway has a ways to go.

Broadway Flash said: "If most shows won’t make it, why don’t they announce closing? You speak so definitively, and you know nothing other than your terrible predictions of what you think might happen. Please stop!"

Because nobody knows the financial and health outcome from when this virus subsides in a couple of months...it will really change the economy especially the tourism trade that BWAY relies on...

Also, The producers of scheduled spring openings are adopting a wait-and-see approach before announcing their intentions on reopening, though industry observers anticipate more shows dropping out.Conservative estimates peg losses in box office revenues across Broadway for the three-month closure at around $500 million, with the additional impact on theater-district businesses fed by the Broadway economy pushing that figure to well over $1 billion. While Broadway's theaters have been closed for short periods in the past — over labor disputes, in the wake of 2012's Hurricane Sandy and immediately after the 9/11 attacks — a shutdown of this duration is unprecedented.The shutdown — will inevitably cost tens of millions of dollars for investors and artists and associated businesses, and will likely trigger the collapse of some plays and musicals that will be unable to survive the delays and losses.

The industry is bracing for a difficult recovery period since audiences may understandably be wary about crowd exposure even after theaters reopen, while the tourist traffic that constitutes much of Broadway's bread and butter looks certain to be slow to return. Some are wondering whether after years of stratospheric financial growth the prolonged blackout might result in a market correction with an impact on Broadway's notoriously high running costs and ticket prices.

Broadway will now remain dark through June 7, though given the unabated spread of the coronavirus pandemic, subsequent announcements are widely expected to push back that reopening date further as needed posibly till after Labor Day. Even if the blackout does end then, the sector could take years to bounce back from the astronomical losses.

**Taken from the NYT**

Updated On: 4/9/20 at 09:13 PM

Luminaire2 said: "NotThatSmart said: "Sutton Ross said: "Thank you NotThatSmart, I appreciate your words. I think being well informed and in the know about what is going on right now is essential. It's frustrating to me when people refuse to believe charts and graphs from scientists, economists and medical doctors. Those same people seem to be the people still going out and disregarding social distancing. It's very personal to me, my best friends' Father died two nights ago from COVID, and my cousin is currently in the ICU battling this, and he is completely alone.

That poster started off our communication by telling me to "shut the f*ck up" when I was just informing them of facts regarding this pandemic, and consistently attacked and disregarded all of the information we were trying to convey to them. I am frustrated and tired at the willful ignorance of it all. When someone is not open to learning, you have to stop trying. So, that's the story there. Take care of yourself, please."

Anytime. I 100% agree. I think people are just looking for someone or something to blame. No one's at fault for the decision of the postponement to June 7 and any postponement announced after that. If anyone is at fault, it is those who are still out and about doing non-essential travel- but even then, that group is way too big to single out.

"


no one should be blamed.


We just need to face the reality before us. Life has changed, likely for a much longer period of time anyone of us saw coming.


Let me give an example from my city, Vancouver. We have been no where near as impacted as New York. Yet all our major summer theatre events are now fully cancelled. (Bard on the Beach, TUTS.) Artsclub is continually adjusting their schedule, and I assume most their summer season is postponed.


Then I can already assume that August Pride will fall in line and be cancelled, and Celebration of Light.


If this is what’s happening to theatre and events in our small city (compared to NYC)... Broadway has a ways to go."

They just cancelled the international jazz festival and the cruise ship season is shut down for the foreseeable future as well. At least it looks like BC is starting to flatten the curve.

Yeah, someone else mentioned that but they will have to move forward without Jesse Williams considering his Grey's filming schedule starts in late summer. Maybe they will just move it to next Spring?

Updated On: 4/9/20 at 09:57 PM

Updated On: 4/9/20 at 10:14 PM

You are correct. Now that I look at my e-mail from Telecharge again, I see that I misread it. Guess it's just the discount that begins Sept. 8. Sorry about that. Here's what it says:

__________________________________________________________

We have more information about your upcoming show:

COMPANY
5/5/2020 7:00:00 PM

Broadway and Off-Broadway shows have suspended performances through Sunday, June 7, 2020. This performance has been suspended.

Your tickets are eligible for exchange or refund. If you exchange in the next 2 weeks, you’ll get 10% off tickets for performances starting September 8, 2020. (Discount off full price tickets only. If you originally bought with a discount, your offer will be honored.)

Updated On: 4/9/20 at 10:18 PM

Would it be helpful to Broadway shows if we continue to purchase tickets during this time? I'm really hoping to see Jagged Little Pill, and am considering grabbing one of the $70 seats for sometime this summer, in the hopes that if enough people do the same producers will see that there is still profit to be made. What does everyone think the over/under is for it coming back? Do you think there will be steep discounts? I'm definitely willing to pay $70 to see the show, but if the ticket prices decrease sharply or the lottery becomes ridiculously easy, I'm going to be disappointed that I didn't hold out for it. Thanks and I hope everyone is staying safe during this crazy time!

Sunny11 said: "MediumSonya said: "Would it be helpful to Broadway shows if we continue to purchase tickets during this time? “

I think that there are too many unknown factors at this point to be able to answer that.

I work in a hospital and every department has had to alter their waiting rooms to provide the correct social distancing space between the patients/visitors. Around every reception desk there arenewly installed see through barriers. Everywhere that people line up there are tape markers on the floor so that people are standing far enough apart. All of the canteens are now takeaway only, all seating has been removed.

This gives you anidea of what a fullyoperational businesslooks like during a pandemic.We don’t know yet what level of social distancing measures will be applied to open theatres and for how long.

If you buy a ticket to a show now. That “ seat” may well be removed even if that performance goes ahead.

"I agree 100%.

If they have to limit the number of people allowed on a stage or orchestra pit at once there might be cutting of jobs like ensemble members and supporting roles that are not absolutely essential to the key plot. We might see a glut of stripped down small scale musicals and plays for awhile.

Updated On: 4/11/20 at 07:51 AM

" This gives you an idea of what a fully operational business looks like during a pandemic. We don’t know yet what level of social distancing measures will be applied to open theatres and for how long.

If you buy a ticket to a show now. That “ seat” may well be removed even if that performance goes ahead. "

If Broadway is closed thru Labor Day and the theaters have to start removing seats, I think it is over for them. You have lost the biggest time of year for ticket sales and how many shows can survive. Do we magically think once Broadway opens in September that tourists are suddenly going to flock to NYC the heart of the coronavirus outbreak when weather gets cooler and virus might come back. So many people in NY may have lost their job for good so I don't think there are going to be plenty of people out there rushing the box office when it opens again.

Less seats means less revenue and they already are losing tons of money. Sure, they could charge more money for seats but with so many people unemployed for months I don't think that would be wise idea. Believe me, I hope I am wrong and other people here know the business of Broadway better than me. I just think the outlook is very grim sadly.